Dispenser valve structure



Jan. 24, 1967 J. l.. ROSEN DISPENSER VALVE STRUCTURE Filed Nov. 6, 1954 EMOL 72 Lfe. @05,9% BYMAX R KRAUS ATTY United States Patent O 3,300,105 DISPENSER VALVE STRUCTURE lloseph L. Rosen, 4101 N. Rockwell St., Glencoe, Ill. 60022 Filed Nov. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 409,404 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-517) This invention relates to improvements in a dispenser valve structure for use principally in connection with containers dispensing liquids under pressure.

This invention is an improvement of the type of valve structures shown in patents, No. 2,892,575 and No. 2,992,760, owned by the same assignee -as the present application.

In 'dispenser valve structures of the type shown in said patents, and in other prior art patents which are being manufactured and sold commercially, it is possible for a person operating the valve to tilt the nozzle to an angle which will cause the material to :be discharged lin undesired amounts and in a spasmodic manner. Likewise,

improper tilting o'f the valve will :prevent proper Whipping of the material. For example, if the user should tilt the nozzle quickly to a greater angle than necessary for the purpose, a squirting action takes .place which releases a greater quantity of the aerosol material than what is desired, and this not only results in a waste of the aerosol material but prevents the proper control and direction of discharge of the aerosol material and results in improper whipping.

It is known that whipping cream, shaving cream, or any product which is to be whipped or to be discharged in a foam, is in a liquid state in the aerosol can; that lthe cream actually whips as it is being dispensed from the valve, due to the action of the gas and the openin-g of the valve. If the nozzle is tilted to a great angle, permitting a large discharge of cream, improper whipping will take place, with the result that the cream and gas will not combine, causing a stream of gas and of cream which has not been whipped but is sti-ll in an unwhipped liquid form. This defeats the purpose of the aerosol unit. Also, as the lproduct is discharged it sputters and discharges in all directions. With the present invention, the angle of tilt of the valve is regulated and controlled so that at no time can the valve be tilted further than would permit complete mixing and whipping of the product.

With the present day commercial dispensers there is lacking the positive control of the discharge of the aerosol material, either as to quantity or direction of discharge. There is also lacking the control which insures proper whipping at all times. With the present day valves the amount of material to be disc'harged cannot be adequately controlled, as the manual .pressure exerted by the individual users finger varies from person to person, and from time to time even with the same perso-n. A light finger pressure aga-inst the nozzle will result in an inadequate discharge, whereas a heavier lin-ger pressure will tilt the nozzle to an angle greater than that desired and will result in a squirting, sputtering, and an excessive discharge of material, and an improper tilting of the nozzle will prevent proper Whipping of the material. There is a great variance in the use of the commercial val-ve structures now on the market and, as pointed out, these are objectionable features.

The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages inherent in the present-day commercial valve structures, which are embodied in various -prior art patents. With the present invention the maximum tilt or angmlar displacement of the nozzle is controlled, thus, at no time, irrespective of the manual pressure applied by the users nger, can the valve be moved to discharge more than that for which the valve has been preset or regulated. In other words, when the valve structure is manufactured,

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the desired angular tilting of the valve structure and nozzle can be prescribed by the construction of the ,parts so that when in use the angular position of the nozzle and valve is controlled and cannot be greater than that yfor which it was constructed.

The invention has for one of its principal objects the provision of means for controlling the angular tilt of the nozzle and valve structure to limit the maximum amount of the aerosol material to 'be Idispensed during each operation.

Another object of this .invention is to provide an improved structure having the iforegoing advantages that is economical to manufacture, simple to install and use, and highly efficient in operation.

`Other objects will .become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the valve structure forming this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on llines 2 2 of FIG. 1, showing the valve structure in upright and normally closed position.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the nozzle and valve structure in its maximum tilted position, and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the improved stem and valve member.

The numeral 10 designates a conventional can or container for aerosol products. The container 12 `is provided at its upper end with a rolled-over edge 14. A closure 16 for the can or container has a peripheral edge 18 rolled about the rolled-over edge 14 for securement thereto. A resilient gasket 20 of rubber or the like is secured between the rolled-over edges 14 and 18 to provide a tight seal therebetween to prevent leakage. This is conventional in the art.

The closure 16 has a central opening 22 encompassed by an upstanding annular rim 24. Secured to the closure 16 is a plug or body, generally indicated at 26, which is formed of resilient material, such as rubber or the like, havin-g a central passage or lbore 28 of uniform diameter throughout the length of the plug. The .plug 26 extends throug-h the opening 22 of the closure 16 and is enlarged at the lower end thereof 4to provide a ange or enlargement 32 which rests against the inside of the closure 16. The bottom surface 34 of the enlargement or flange 32 forms the valve seat, as will be subsequently described. The tubular portion of the plug is provided with an annular shoulder or bead or boss 35, the -bottom or lower edge 36 of which seats against the top of the annular rim 24 to securely lock the plug 26 to the container. The upper portion of the shoulder or boss 35 inolines or tapers upwardly and inwardly as at 37 where `it merges into the tubular body portion of the plug. The taper of the upper portion 37 of the shoulder is approximately 45.

The valve stem unit, which is generally indicated at 3S, includes a stem, a Spearhead at the upper end thereof and a valve at the lower end. The valve stem unit has an elongated circular stem 40 provided with a generally spear-shaped head 42. The spear-shaped head has tapered sides 44 with lower horizontal extending portions 46 which form the engaging portions of the head for engaging the shoulder of the nozzle, to be described. The point end 48 of the head is slightly rounded or blunted. The head has at parallel spaced sides 50 and the distance between the sides 50 is less than the diameter y of the stem 40.

into the stem body and terminate in a spaced relation to the -horizontal portions 46 of the Spearhead. The lower ends of the ribs 60 extend into the tapered portion 58. The ribs 6i), while they are out of engagement with the internal or inside wall of the plug 26, serve to center the valve Stern unit 38.

When the valve 54 is seated, as shown in FIG. 1, the tapered -annular portion 58 engages the lowermost edge 61 of the plug 26 adjacent the bore 28 and closes, and in effect seals the entrance to the bore of the plug, thereby preventing the passage `of any of the aerosol material from the container into the bore of the plug 26.

The stem 40 iS provided with a vertical Slot 62 which extends into the Spearhead to permit a slight compression of the Spearhead 42 when the stem iS initially inserted through the plug 26 from the bottom or inner side of the plug, more particularly, a slight compression of the spearhead 42 as it passes the shoulder of the nozzle, to be described. The valve stem unit 38, best Shown in FIG. 4, which comprises the stem, Spearhead, and valve is integrally molded of a high impact polystyrene material.

A tubular nozzle, generally indicated at 64, formed of a rigid plastic material encompasses and envelops a portion of plug 26, including the shoulder or bead or boss 35 of the plug. The nozzle 64 is provided with an inside annular or circumferential bead or boss 66 which reduces the bore of the nozzle for the length of the bead or boss 66. The bead or boss is further provided with an inwardly extending annular shoulder 68 which is adapted to engage the lower edge 46 of the Spearhead 42 for securing the nozzle in a locked position relative to said Spearhead and Stem. The lower end of the nozzle 64 has an enlarged skirt portion 70 having a greater inside diameter than that of the inside of the body of the nozzle which tapers inwardly as at 72 to rnerge with the body of the nozzle. The angle of the taper 72 is complementary to the taper of shoulder portion 37 of the plug 26 with which it engages when the nozzle is in upright position as Shown in FIG. 2, with the Valve seated in closed position. The lower edge 74 of the skirt portion 70 of the nozzle extends Slightly short of the lower edge or bottom 36 of the shoulder 35 of the plug 26. The inside bore of the nozzle below the bead or boss 66 is provided with an inwardly curved portion 76 which engages the complementary shaped upper portion 78 of the plug. The upper end of the nozzle 64 curves inwardly and is provided with a plurality of radially spaced slots 80 of a V-Shaped configuration. i

The lower edge 74 of the skirt portion 70 of the nozzle 64 engages the top of the closure 16 when the nozzle is tilted to the angular position shown in FIG. 3, such as when the nozzle is operated. The extent or limit to which the nozzle 64, plug 26 and stem unit 38 may be tilted is Shown in FIG. 3. The angular displacement from the vertical or the nozzle 64, as shown in FIG. 3, is approximately 18, however, a greater controlled inclination may be obtained by shortening the skirt portion 70 of the nozzle, or a lesser controlled inclination may be obtained by. lengthening the skirt edge 74. With the angular inclination limited and controlled, as shown, the aerosol material will pass through the opening, indicated by the numeral S2, through the bore of the plug and out through the nozzle, that is, through the opposite flat sides 50 of the Spearhead. As the nozzle 64 is tilted, as shown in FIG. 3, the at portion 56 of the valve 54 of the Stem presses into the at portion 34 of the plug 26 along a portion thereof. In the normal position, as shown in FIG. 2, the flange 32 of the plug is not compressed.

As may be understood, irrespective of the tilting direction of the nozzle, the angle of tilt or inclination limits and controls the amount of material that may pass through the plug and nozzle. Obviously, by tilting the nozzle less than that shown, a lesser amount of material is discharged. The maximum amount of material to be discharged is controlled at all times, and the amount to be discharged can be preset when the valve is manufactured by determining the length of the skirt and its spaced relation to the top of the closure member 16. At no time can the nozzle be tilted at a greater angle than that permitted by the length of the skirt in engagement with the closure 16.

In initially assembling the structure, the plug 26 is secured to the closure 16. The stem unit 38 is then inserted into the plug through the bottom or underside of the plug and simultaneously the nozzle 64 is positioned over the top of the plug 26. The lower end of the Spearhead 42 adjacent the engaging surfaces 46 is normally larger than the inside diameter of the nozzle defined by shoulder 68, and hence the Spearhead 42 would have difficulty passing the Shoulder were it not for the beveled undersurface of the shoulder 68, the inclined Side Surfaces 44 of the Spearhead, and the slot 62 in the spearhead. Due to the Slot 62, the Spearhead is compressed suciently as it moves upwardly past the shoulder 68 so that the widest part of the Spearhead is urged inwardly to allow the Spearhead to move upwardly past the Shoulder 66. After the Spearhead passes above the Shoulder 68, the Spearhead 42 assumes its normal position and the lower engaging ends 46 of the Spearhead extend beyond the inner circumference of the shoulder 68 to automatically lock the nozzle 64 to the stem unit 38 against removal.

It will be understood that various changes and modications may be made from the foregoing without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a container closure having an opening therethrough, a resilient tubular plug extending through said opening and having a flange engaging the inner surface `of said closure and an annular outwardly extending shoulder above said flange with the underside of said shoulder engaging the container closure to Secure said plug to said closure, said plug being provided with a valve seat on its inner side, said plug having a tubular portion with an outside diameter less than the -outside diameter of said shoulder, a rigid valve Stern of lesser diameter than the internal diameter of said tubular plug, said valve stem being integrally formed of a plastic material and being provided at its inner end with a valve head adapted to engage said Seat and being provided at its outer end with a generally shaped Spearhead comprising preformed engaging surfaces extending laterally of Said Ste-m, Said Spearhead having a slot therein permitting compression of said Spearhead, a separate nozzle positioned on Said tubular plug, said nozzle having an inner shoulder adapted to be engaged by said engaging surfaces, said nozzle having an enlarged skirt portion having an inside diameter greater than the inside diameter of the body of the nozzle, Said skirt provided with a lower edge, said lower edge adapted to engage the container closure to limit the angular inclination of Said nozzle plug and valve stem when actuated, the lower end of the skirt portion being free of locking engagement with the plug adjacent to Said Skirt portion to permit the skirt to move relative to the shoulder when the valve Stem is actuated.

2. A structure defined in claim 1 in which the shoulder of the plug is tapered and in which the skirt portion of the nozzle is also tapered to engage the taper on the plug Shoulder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,612,293 9/1952 Michel 222-394 2,729,368 l/l956 Lapin et al. 222-394 2,839,225 6/1958 Soer et al 222-394 2,849,163 8/1958 Soler et al. 222-394 2,975,944 3/1961 Michel 222-394 3,062,417 1l/l962 Sullivan et al. 222-394 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A CONTAINER CLOSURE HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, A RESILIENT TUBULAR PLUG EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING AND HAVING A FLANGE ENGAGING THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID CLOSURE AND AN ANNULAR OUTWARDLY EXTENDING SHOULDER ABOVE SAID FLANGE WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID SHOULDER ENGAGING THE CONTAINER CLOSURE TO SECURE SAID PLUG TO SAID CLOSURE, SAID PLUG BEING PROVIDED WITH A VALVE SEAT ON ITS INNER SIDE, SAID PLUG HAVING A TUBULAR PORTION WITH AN OUTSIDE DIAMETER LESS THAN THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF SAID SHOULDER, A RIGID VALVE STEM OF LESSER DIAMETER THAN THE INTERNAL DIAMETER OF SAID TUBULAR PLUG, SAID VALVE STEM BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED OF A PLASTIC MATERIAL AND BEING PROVIDED AT ITS INNER END WITH A VALVE HEAD ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID SEAT AND BEING PROVIDED AT ITS OUTER END WITH A GENERALLY SHAPED SPEARHEAD COMPRISING PREFORMED ENGAGING SURFACES EXTENDING LATERALLY OF SAID STEM, SAID SPEARHEAD HAVING A SLOT THEREIN PERMITTING COMPRESSION OF SAID SPEARHEAD, A SEPARATE NOZZLE POSITIONED ON SAID TUBULAR PLUG, SAID NOZZLE HAVING AN INNER SHOULDER ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY SAID ENGAGING SURFACES, SAID NOZZLE HAVING AN ENLARGED SKIRT PORTION HAVING AN INSIDE DIAMETER GREATER THAN THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF THE BODY OF THE NOZZLE, SAID SKIRT PROVIDED WITH A LOWER EDGE, SAID LOWER EDGE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE CONTAINER CLOSURE TO LIMIT THE ANGULAR INCLINATION OF SAID NOZZLE PLUG AND VALVE STEM WHEN ACTUATED, THE LOWER END OF THE SKIRT PORTION BEING FREE OF LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PLUG ADJACENT TO SAID SKIRT PORTION TO PERMIT THE SKIRT TO MOVE RELATIVE TO THE SHOULDER WHEN THE VALVE STEM IS ACTUATED. 